U.S. patent application number 11/294496 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for disc drive apparatus and electronic device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tatsuyuki Takahashi.
Application Number | 20060130086 11/294496 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36117681 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060130086 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takahashi; Tatsuyuki |
June 15, 2006 |
Disc drive apparatus and electronic device
Abstract
A disc drive apparatus is composed of a table rotating means for
rotating a turntable on which a disc-like recording medium is
detachably mounted, a chassis to which the table rotating means is
attached, an optical pickup device for recording and/or reproducing
an information signal on and/or from the disc-like recording medium
rotated by the table rotating means, an optical pickup moving means
including two guide members for guiding the optical pickup device
in the radius direction of the disc-like recording medium and
moving the optical pickup device along the two guide members and a
supporting means for supporting at least one guide member of the
two guide members to the chassis or a chassis side member, wherein
the supporting means includes an elastic member for spring-biasing
the one guide member at least at one end of the longitudinal
direction of the one guide member in the direction crossing its
shaft direction and an adjustment screw located so as to oppose the
elastic member so that it may be screwed to the chassis or the
chassis side member and the adjustment screw having a tapered
portion contacting with an outer peripheral surface of the one
guide member so as to stop movement of the one guide member
spring-biased by the elastic member.
Inventors: |
Takahashi; Tatsuyuki;
(Kanagawa, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
36117681 |
Appl. No.: |
11/294496 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
720/679 ;
G9B/7.056; G9B/7.061 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 7/08582 20130101;
G11B 7/082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
720/679 |
International
Class: |
G11B 7/08 20060101
G11B007/08; G11B 7/085 20060101 G11B007/085; G11B 7/09 20060101
G11B007/09 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 10, 2004 |
JP |
P2004-358942 |
Claims
1. A disc drive apparatus comprising: table rotating means for
rotating a turntable on which a disc-like recording medium is
detachably mounted; a chassis to which said table rotating means is
attached; an optical pickup device for recording and/or reproducing
an information signal on and/or from said disc-like recording
medium rotated by said table rotating means; optical pickup moving
means including two guide members for guiding said optical pickup
device in the radius direction of said disc-like recording medium
and moving said optical pickup device along said two guide members;
and supporting means for supporting at least one guide member of
said two guide members to said chassis or a chassis side member,
wherein said supporting means includes an elastic member for
spring-biasing said one guide member at least at one end of the
longitudinal direction of said one guide member in the direction
crossing its shaft direction and an adjustment screw located so as
to oppose said elastic member so that it may be screwed to said
chassis or said chassis side member and said adjustment screw
having a tapered portion contacting with an outer peripheral
surface of said one guide member so as to stop movement of said one
guide member spring-biased by said elastic member.
2. A disc drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
adjustment screw is a countersunk small screw or a flat head bolt
with a head having an inverse conical tapered portion.
3. A disc drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
adjustment screw is a screw or a bolt in which a ring having an
inverse conical tapered portion is attached to a shaft portion.
4. A disc drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
elastic member is formed of a coil spring, a leaf spring, a volute
spring or a rubber-like elastic material of which one end is
supported to said chassis or said chassis side member.
5. A disc drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
supporting means is provided at said one guide member at its
respective ends in the longitudinal direction.
6. An electronic device including a disc drive apparatus for
rotating a disc-like recording medium and recording and/or
reproducing an information signal on and/or from said disc-like
recording medium, said disc drive apparatus comprising: table
rotating means for rotating a turntable on which a disc-like
recording medium is detachably mounted; a chassis to which said
table rotating means is attached; an optical pickup device for
recording and/or reproducing an information signal on and/or from
said disc-like recording medium rotated by said table rotating
means; optical pickup moving means including two guide members for
guiding said optical pickup device in the radius direction of said
disc-like recording medium and moving said optical pickup device
along said two guide members; and supporting means for supporting
at least one guide member of said two guide members to said chassis
or a chassis side member, wherein said supporting means includes an
elastic member for spring-biasing said one guide member at least at
one end of the longitudinal direction of said one guide member in
the direction crossing its shaft direction and an adjustment screw
located so as to oppose said elastic member so that it may be
screwed to said chassis or said chassis side member and said
adjustment screw having a tapered portion contacting with an outer
peripheral surface of said one guide member so as to stop movement
of said one guide member spring-biased by said elastic member.
7. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said
adjustment screw is a countersunk small screw or a flat head bolt
with a head having an inverse conical tapered portion.
8. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said
adjustment screw is a screw or a bolt in which a ring having an
inverse conical tapered portion is attached to a shaft portion.
9. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said elastic
member is formed of a coil spring, a leaf spring, a volute spring
or a rubber-like elastic material of which one end is supported to
said chassis or said chassis side member.
10. An electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said
supporting means is provided at said one guide member at its
respective ends in the longitudinal direction.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention contains subject matter related to
Japanese Patent Application JP 2004-358492 filed in the Japanese
Patent Office on Dec. 10, 2004, the entire contents of which being
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a disc drive apparatus
including an optical pickup device for recording and/or reproducing
an information signal on and/or from a disc-like recording medium
which is detachably attached to the disc drive apparatus and an
electronic device including such disc drive apparatus, and
particularly to a disc drive apparatus in which at least one of
guide members of two guide members of an optical pickup moving
means for guiding movement of the optical pickup device can be
moved and adjusted in the direction substantially parallel to the
plane direction of the disc-like recording medium and an electronic
device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Cited Patent Reference 1, for example, has described so far
this kind of disc drive apparatus. The Cited Patent Reference 1 has
described a disc reproducing apparatus in which an angle of
inclination of an optical axis of an objective lens and the
position of a movement locus of the optical axis of the objective
lens can be adjusted. The disc reproducing apparatus described in
the Cited Patent Reference 1 is composed of a first holder fixed to
a chassis and which is used to hold a drive motor to which a
turntable with a disc held thereon is pivotally supported, a first
inclination adjusting means for adjusting an inclination of the
first direction of the turntable pivotally supported by the drive
motor held by the first holder relative to the chassis, a second
inclination adjusting means for adjusting an inclination of the
turntable in the second direction having a predetermined
relationship between it and the first direction, a second holder
fixed to the chassis to support the optical pickup so that the
optical pickup can be moved freely and a third inclination
adjusting means for adjusting an inclination of the optical pickup
supported to the second holder along the plane on the chassis.
[0006] According to the disc reproducing apparatus having the
above-mentioned arrangement, there can be expected effects in which
an angle of inclination of an optical axis of an objective lens and
the position of a movement locus of the optical axis of the
objective lens can be adjusted with ease.
[0007] However, in the case of the disc reproducing apparatus
according to the Cited Patent Reference 1, a "so-called R
dependence" generated by a displacement between the extended line
of the movement locus of the optical axis of the objective lens and
the center of rotation of the turntable is adjusted by the whole of
a sled mechanism. This "R dependence" will be described more in
detail later on. Specifically, while the turntable is supported to
a chassis through a bracket, an optical pickup having an objective
lens is supported to the chassis through suitable means such as two
rods so that it can be moved. Further, the holder includes a rack
gear portion and it is provided with an adjustment jig gear which
is meshed with the rack gear portion. This adjustment jig gear is
rotated to rotate the holder along the plane on the chassis,
whereby the R dependence can be canceled by adjusting the position
of the movement locus of the optical axis of the objective
lens.
[0008] In general, it is known that, when laser light emitted from
the objective lens of the optical pickup traces the information
recording surface of the optical disc, if the extended line of the
movement locus of the optical pickup lies on the line which passes
the center of rotation of the optical disc, then best
characteristics can be obtained and that the R dependence is
deteriorated and characteristics are deteriorated as the position
is being displaced from the line. These relationships will be
described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B and FIGS. 2A and
2B.
[0009] FIG. 1A of the accompanying drawings shows the state in
which a movement locus PL of the optical pickup which traces the
information recording surface of the optical disc is coincident
with a line CL passing the center of rotation of the optical disc.
This line CL will hereinafter be referred to as a "disc central
line". In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 100A denotes the state in
which the optical pickup is located at the innermost periphery of
the information recording area of the optical disc. Also, reference
numeral 100B denotes the state in which the optical pickup is
located at the outermost periphery of the information recording
area of the optical disc. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing positional
relationship among data tracks (grooves), lands and three beam
spots at these innermost and outermost peripheral positions in an
enlarged-scale.
[0010] In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 103 denotes a n-1th data track
from the inside of the radius direction of the optical disc.
Reference numeral 104 denotes a n-th data track from the inside of
the radius direction of the optical disc and reference numeral 105
denotes a n+1th data track from the inside of the radius direction
of the optical disc. Also, reference numeral 106 denotes a n-th
land from the inside of the radius direction of the optical disc
and reference numeral 107 denotes a n+1th land from the inside of
the radius direction of the optical disc. Further, reference
numeral 111 denotes a main beam spot of three beam spots outputted
from an optical pickup 100, reference numeral 112 denotes a side
beam spot of the front side of the track running direction and
reference numeral 113 denotes a side beam spot of the back side of
the track running direction. In this case, n is an arbitrary
integer.
[0011] Beam spots of the general optical pickup are three beam
spots. A focusing error signal is detected by a large main beam
spot located between the two side beam spots and a tracking error
signal is detected by the two side beam spots located at both sides
of the large main beam spot. The two side beam spots are located
between data and data across one track (track pitch TP) of a data
track which is a data area. In this state, the two side beam spots
have a phase difference of 180.degree. therebetween.
[0012] As shown in FIG. 2A, the main beam spot 111 of the optical
pickup 100 is located at substantially the central portion of the
n-th data track 104, the front side beam spot 112 is located at
substantially the central portion of the n+1th land 107 and the
back side beam spot 113 is located at substantially the central
portion of the n-th land 106. In this state, a relative movement
direction RM which makes a right angle with the movement locus PL
of the optical pickup 100 is substantially coincident with a
direction TM in which data tracks (or lands) are extended. The
centers of the two side beams 112 and 113 are connected by a
straight line and a length of this straight line will hereinafter
be referred to as a "side beam pitch BP". Also, an angle .theta.a
formed by the side beam pitch BP and the relative movement
direction RM will hereinafter be referred to as a "beam skew
angle".
[0013] On the other hand, FIG. 1B shows the state in which the
movement locus PL (three beam spots) of the optical pickup 100
which traces the information recording surface of the optical disc
is displaced from the disc central line CL by a displacement amount
E. In FIG. 1B, reference numerals are similar to those of FIG. 1A.
In FIGS. 1A and 1B, reference letter R denotes a radius in the
innermost periphery of the information recording area. Also, FIG.
2B is a diagram showing main portions of FIG. 1B in an
enlarged-scale and shows positional relationships among data tracks
(grooves), lands and three beam spots in the innermost and
outermost peripheral positions of the information recording area in
an enlarged-scale.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 2B, when the trace formed on the
information recording surface of the optical disc by the optical
pickup 100 is displaced from the disc central line CL of the
optical disc, a displacement angle .theta.b is generated. This
displacement angle .theta.b is an angle formed between the relative
movement direction RM of the optical pickup 100 and the direction
TM in which data tracks are extended and this displacement angle
.theta.b will hereinafter be referred to as a "beam displacement
angle". A phase difference based on this beam displacement angle
.theta.b, that is, a phase difference relative to a phase
difference of 180.degree. between two side spots is called a "R
dependence". R
dependence=(.theta.b/.theta.a).times.180[.degree.]
[0015] This R dependence is caused by positional accuracy between a
main guide shaft for guiding the optical pickup 100 and a rotary
shaft of a spindle motor, and tracking efficiency of the optical
pickup 100 is deteriorated as the R dependence is increased. In
order to improve the tracking efficiency, various factors such as
dimensional accuracy between fixed standard of the spindle motor
fixed to the chassis (or chassis side member) and fixed standard of
the main guide shaft and vertical accuracy of the spindle shaft
should be controlled strictly. However, as signal processing
becomes higher in double-speed and recording density is increased
much more in recent years, it becomes difficult to obtain high
tracking efficiency by only control of the above-described
dimensional accuracy, which as a result causes disadvantages such
as deterioration of yield.
[0016] In order to remove the above-described disadvantages,
according to the disc reproducing apparatus of the Cited Patent
Reference 1, the R dependence can be adjusted and canceled by
rotating the adjustment jig gear, whereafter a holder is fixed to
the chassis by fixed screws to thereby prevent the R dependence
from being changed. Accordingly, when the R dependence is adjusted,
works of two steps such as rotation adjustment work using the
adjustment jig gear and fixing work using the fixed screws are
required. Therefore, not only adjustment work becomes complicated
but also there are a lot of available assemblies, which is
uneconomical.
[0017] Cited Patent Reference 1: Official Gazette of Japanese
laid-open patent application No. 2001-176086
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] In view of the aforesaid aspect, the present invention
intends to provide a disc drive apparatus in which adjustment work
of R dependence can be made easy and which can be formed of lesser
assemblies.
[0019] Further, the present invention intends to provide an
electronic device including the above disc drive apparatus.
[0020] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a disc drive apparatus which is comprised of a table
rotating means for rotating a turntable on which a disc-like
recording medium is detachably mounted, a chassis to which the
table rotating means is attached, an optical pickup device for
recording and/or reproducing an information signal on and/or from
the disc-like recording medium rotated by the table rotating means,
an optical pickup moving means including two guide members for
guiding the optical pickup device in the radius direction of the
disc-like recording medium and moving the optical pickup device
along the two guide members and a supporting means for supporting
at least one guide member of the two guide members to the chassis
or a chassis side member, wherein the supporting means includes an
elastic member for spring-biasing the one guide member at least at
one end of the longitudinal direction of the one guide member in
the direction crossing its shaft direction and an adjustment screw
located so as to oppose the elastic member so that it may be
screwed to the chassis or the chassis side member and the
adjustment screw having a tapered portion contacting with an outer
peripheral surface of the one guide member so as to stop movement
of the one guide member spring-biased by the elastic member.
[0021] In the disc drive apparatus according to the present
invention, the adjustment screw is a countersunk small screw or a
flat head bolt with a head having an inverse conical tapered
portion.
[0022] In the disc drive apparatus according to the present
invention, the adjustment screw is a screw or a bolt in which a
ring having an inverse conical tapered portion is attached to a
shaft portion.
[0023] In the disc drive apparatus according to the present
invention, the elastic member is formed of a coil spring, a leaf
spring, a volute spring or a rubber-like elastic material of which
one end is supported to the chassis or the chassis side member.
[0024] In the disc drive apparatus according to the present
invention, the supporting means is provided at the one guide member
at its respective ends in the longitudinal direction.
[0025] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an electronic device including a disc drive
apparatus for rotating a disc-like recording medium and recording
and/or reproducing an information signal on and/or from the
disc-like recording medium, the disc drive apparatus is comprised
of a table rotating means for rotating a turntable on which a
disc-like recording medium is detachably mounted, a chassis to
which the table rotating means is attached, an optical pickup
device for recording and/or reproducing an information signal on
and/or from the disc-like recording medium rotated by the table
rotating means, an optical pickup moving means including two guide
members for guiding the optical pickup device in the radius
direction of the disc-like recording medium and moving the optical
pickup device along the two guide members and a supporting means
for supporting at least one guide member of the two guide members
to the chassis or a chassis side member, wherein the supporting
means includes an elastic member for spring-biasing the one guide
member at least at one end of the longitudinal direction of the one
guide member in the direction crossing its shaft direction and an
adjustment screw located so as to oppose the elastic member so that
it may be screwed to the chassis or the chassis side member and the
adjustment screw having a tapered portion contacting with an outer
peripheral surface of the one guide member so as to stop movement
of the one guide member spring-biased by the elastic member.
[0026] In the electronic device according to the present invention,
the adjustment screw is a countersunk small screw or a flat head
bolt with a head having an inverse conical tapered portion.
[0027] In the electronic device according to the present invention,
the adjustment screw is a screw or a bolt in which a ring having an
inverse conical tapered portion is attached to a shaft portion.
[0028] Further, in the electronic device according to the present
invention, the elastic member is formed of a coil spring, a leaf
spring, a volute spring or a rubber-like elastic material of which
one end is supported to the chassis or the chassis side member.
[0029] Furthermore, in the electronic device according to the
present invention, the supporting means is provided at the one
guide member at its respective ends in the longitudinal
direction.
[0030] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, the disc-like recording medium mounted on the turntable
is rotated by the table rotating means and the optical pickup
device is moved in the radius direction of the disc-like recording
medium by the optical pickup moving means. When the optical pickup
device is being moved in the radius direction of the disc-like
recording medium by the optical pickup moving means, the
information signal is recorded on or reproduced from the disc-like
recording medium by the optical pickup device. At that time, if the
optical pickup which traces the information recording surface of
the disc-like recording medium is displaced from the disc central
line, then tracking efficiency will be deteriorated and hence the
optical pickup should be adjusted so as to remove such
displacement. In this case, the height of the head is changed by
turning the adjustment screw of the supporting means which supports
at least one guide member of the two guide members to the chassis
or the chassis side member, whereby the axial direction (attachment
attitude) of one guide member spring-biased with the elastic member
is changed to remove the R dependence.
[0031] As a result, since the optical pickup device can be adjusted
such that the optical pickup may trace the disc central line
regardless of attachment accuracy of the chassis, the spindle motor
and the like, deterioration of tracking efficiency can be
suppressed to the minimum and performance of the disc drive
apparatus can be improved for recording and reproduction. Also, the
adjustment screw of the main guide shaft which is one guide member
serves as a member for fixing the main guide shaft to the chassis
as well. In consequence, work of two steps of the rotation
adjustment work done by the adjustment jig in the adjustment work
of the R dependence, which has been enumerated as the problem
encountered with the related art, and the fixing work using the
fixed screws can be replaced with work of one step and hence
adjustment and fixing can be completed. Thus, it becomes possible
to decrease the number of manufacturing processes and the number of
assemblies.
[0032] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, since screw assemblies generally available on the
market, such as small countersink screws and flat head bolts of
flat fillister head screws and oval countersunk screws can be used
as adjustment screws and screws of special shapes and structures
need not be manufactured, a manufacturing cost of the disc drive
apparatus can be prevented from being increased and hence it is
possible to realize the supporting means, which can change the
axial direction of the guide member, by an extremely simple
arrangement.
[0033] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, since the adjustment screw can be constructed by the
simple arrangement of the screw, which is widely used, and the
tapered ring, it is possible to realize the supporting means, which
can change the axial direction of the guide member, by the simple
arrangement without increasing the manufacturing cost so much.
[0034] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, since the coil spring, the leaf spring, the volute
spring or the rubber-like elastic material, which are widely used,
can be used as the elastic member and accordingly any special
elastic member need not be used, it is possible to inexpensively
manufacture the supporting means, which can change the axial
direction of the guide member, by the simple arrangement without
increasing the manufacturing cost so much.
[0035] Further, according to the disc drive apparatus of the
present invention, since one guide member is supported by the
supporting means such that both ends thereof in the longitudinal
direction may be adjusted, the guide member can be adjusted at its
both ends of the axial direction and it is possible to realize the
supporting means of which angle can be fine adjusted by the simple
arrangement.
[0036] Furthermore, according to the electronic device of the
present invention, the axial direction of at least one guide member
of the two guide members supported to the chassis or the chassis
side member of the disc drive apparatus by the supporting means can
be varied by turning the adjustment screw of the supporting means
to change the height of the head of the adjustment screw, whereby
the axial direction of the guide member spring-biased by the
elastic member can be changed to remove the R dependence. As a
result, it is possible to provide the electronic device in which
adjustment work by which the optical pickup can trace the disc
central line can be carried out with ease regardless of positional
accuracy of suitable components such as the chassis and the spindle
motor, deterioration of tracking efficiency can be suppressed to
the minimum and which can be improved in performance for recording
and reproduction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] FIGS. 1A and 1B are respectively schematic diagrams showing
a relationship between a movement locus of an optical pickup of a
disc drive apparatus and a central line of a disc; wherein FIG. 1A
is a schematic diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining the state in which a movement locus of the optical
pickup is coincident with the central line of the disc; and FIG. 1B
are a schematic diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining the state in which a movement locus of the optical
pickup is parallel to the central line of the disc;
[0038] FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively schematic diagrams showing
main portions of FIGS. 1A and 1B; wherein FIG. 2A is an explanatory
diagram showing the main portion of FIG. 1A in an enlarged-scale;
and FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram showing the main portion of
FIG. 1B in an enlarged-scale;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a disc drive apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention from the front
side;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the disc drive
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention from
the back side;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a front view of the disc drive apparatus according
to the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the disc drive apparatus according
to the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the disc drive apparatus
according to the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 8 is a right-hand side elevational view of the disc
drive apparatus according to the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a main portion of
the disc drive apparatus shown in FIG. 6 and to which reference
will be made in explaining the state in which a supporting plate is
removed to expose a feed screw shaft;
[0046] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which a
chassis is removed from the disc drive apparatus shown in FIG. 3 to
expose a pickup moving means;
[0047] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a table rotating means, the
optical pickup device and the pickup moving means of the disc drive
apparatus shown in FIG. 3;
[0048] FIG. 12 is a bottom view showing the table rotating means,
the optical pickup device and the pickup moving means of the disc
drive apparatus shown in FIG. 3;
[0049] FIG. 13 is a right-hand side elevational view showing the
table rotating means, the optical pickup device and the pickup
moving means of the disc drive apparatus shown in FIG. 3;
[0050] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a disc type camera
apparatus of an electronic device including a disc drive apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention from the front
side;
[0051] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the disc type camera
apparatus of the electronic device including the disc drive
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention from
the rear side;
[0052] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the disc type camera
apparatus of the electronic device including the disc drive
apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention from
the front side in which a disc lid of the disc type camera
apparatus being opened;
[0053] FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C are respectively diagrams showing a
first inventive example of a supporting means of a guide member of
the disc drive apparatus according to the present invention;
wherein FIG. 17A is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining the state in which a guide member is located close to an
adjustment screw; FIG. 17B is a diagram to which reference will be
made in explaining the state in which the guide member is located
at the intermediate position; and FIG. 17C is a diagram to which
reference will be made in explaining the state in which the guide
member is located distant from the adjustment screw,
respectively;
[0054] FIGS. 18, 18B and 18C are respectively diagrams showing a
second inventive example of a supporting means of a guide member of
the disc drive apparatus according to the present invention;
wherein FIG. 18A is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining the state in which a guide member is located close to an
adjustment screw; FIG. 18B is a diagram to which reference will be
made in explaining the state in which the guide member is located
at the intermediate position; and FIG. 18C is a diagram to which
reference will be made in explaining the state in which the guide
member is located distant from the adjustment screw,
respectively;
[0055] FIGS. 19A, 19B, 19C and 19D are respectively diagrams used
to explain operations for adjusting the movement locus of the
optical pickup of the disc drive apparatus according to the present
invention; wherein FIG. 19A is a diagram to which reference will be
made in explaining the state in which the movement locus is
parallel to the central line of the disc; FIG. 19B is a diagram to
which reference will be made in explaining the state in which the
extended line of the movement locus is adjusted by adjusting a
supporting means located close to the rotation center of a
turntable so that the extended line may pass the rotation center of
the turntable; FIG. 19C is a diagram to which reference will be
made in explaining the state in which the extended line of the
movement locus is adjusted by adjusting a supporting means located
distant from the rotation center of the turntable such that the
extended line may pass the rotation center; and FIG. 19D is a
diagram to which reference will be made in explaining the state in
which the movement locus is adjusted by adjusting both of the
above-mentioned supporting means so that the movement locus may
become coincident with the central line of the disc,
respectively;
[0056] FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D are respectively diagrams used
to explain operations for adjusting the movement locus of the
optical pickup of the disc drive apparatus according to the present
invention; wherein FIG. 20A is a diagram to which reference will be
made in explaining the state in which the movement locus crosses
the central line of the disc at an angle of .theta.; FIG. 20B is a
diagram to which reference will be made in explaining the state in
which the extended line of the movement locus is adjusted by
adjusting a supporting means located close to the rotation center
of a turntable so that the extended line may pass the rotation
center of the turntable; FIG. 20C is a diagram to which reference
will be made in explaining the state in which the extended line of
the movement locus is adjusted by adjusting a supporting means
located distant from the rotation center of the turntable such that
the extended line may pass the rotation center of the turntable;
and FIG. 20D is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining the state in which the movement locus is adjusted by
adjusting both of the above-mentioned supporting means so that the
movement locus may become coincident with the central line of the
disc, respectively; and
[0057] FIGS. 21A, 21B, 21C and 21D are respectively diagrams used
to explain operations for adjusting the movement locus of the
optical pickup of the disc drive apparatus according to the present
invention; wherein FIG. 21A is a diagram to which reference will be
made in explaining the state in which the movement locus crosses
the central line of the disc at an angle of .theta.; FIG. 21B is a
diagram to which reference will be made in explaining the state in
which the extended line of the movement locus is adjusted by
adjusting a supporting means located close to the rotation center
of a turntable so that the extended line may pass the rotation
center; FIG. 21C is a diagram to which reference will be made in
explaining the state in which the extended line of the movement
locus is adjusted by adjusting a supporting means located distant
from the rotation center of the turntable such that the extended
line may pass the rotation center of the turntable; and FIG. 21D is
a diagram to which reference will be made in explaining the state
in which the movement locus is adjusted by adjusting both of the
above-mentioned supporting means so that the movement locus may
become coincident with the central line of the disc,
respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0058] According to the present invention, a disc drive apparatus
in which adjustment work by which an optical pickup can trace a
disc central line can be carried out with ease, deterioration of
tracking efficiency can be suppressed to the minimum and which can
be improved in performance for recording and reproduction and an
electronic device including such disc drive apparatus can be
realized by a simple structure.
[0059] The present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the drawings.
[0060] FIG. 3 to FIGS. 21A to 21D are diagrams showing the
embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, FIGS. 3 to
13 are diagrams showing a disc drive apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3 is a
perspective view showing a disc drive apparatus of the present
invention from the front side; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing
the disc drive apparatus of the present invention from the rear
side; FIG. 5 is a front view thereof; FIG. 6 is a rear view
thereof; FIG. 7 is a bottom view thereof; FIG. 8 is a right-hand
side elevational view thereof; FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram
showing a main portion of FIG. 6; FIG. 10 is a perspective view
showing the disc drive apparatus with its chassis being removed;
FIG. 11 is a front view showing the disc drive apparatus with its
chassis being removed; FIG. 12 is a bottom view showing the disc
drive apparatus with its chassis being removed; and FIG. 13 is a
right-hand side elevational view showing the disc drive apparatus
with its chassis being removed. FIGS. 14 to 16 are diagrams showing
an electronic device including a disc drive apparatus according to
an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 14 is a
perspective view showing a disc type camera apparatus, which shows
a specific example of an electronic device, from the front side;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the above-mentioned disc type
camera apparatus from the rear side; and FIG. 16 is a perspective
view showing the above-mentioned disc type camera apparatus with
its disc lid being opened.
[0061] Further, FIGS. 17A to 17C are respectively explanatory
diagrams showing a first inventive example of a supporting means of
the disc drive apparatus according to the present invention; FIGS.
18A to 18C are respectively explanatory diagrams showing a second
inventive example of the supporting means of the disc drive
apparatus according to the present invention; FIGS. 19A to 19D are
respectively explanatory diagrams showing a first example of
adjustment of the supporting means of the disc drive apparatus
according to the present invention; FIGS. 20A to 20D are
respectively explanatory diagrams showing a second example of
adjustment of the supporting means of the disc drive apparatus
according to the present invention; and FIGS. 21A to 21D are
respectively diagrams showing a third example of adjustment of the
supporting means of the disc drive apparatus according to the
present invention.
[0062] An electronic device, generally depicted by reference
numeral 1 in FIGS. 14 to 16, is a camera apparatus using an 8 cm
DVD-R (digital video disc-recordable) which shows a specific
example of a disc-like recording medium serving as information
storage media. This camera apparatus is able to record an optical
image on the DVD-R in the form of an electrical signal after the
optical image had been converted into the electrical signal by a
CCD (charge-coupled device) or it is able to display such optical
image on a suitable display apparatus such as a liquid-crystal
monitor. This camera apparatus will hereinafter be referred to as a
"disc type camera apparatus". However, the disc-like recording
medium according to the present invention is not limited to the
DVD-R. It is needless to say that other recordable optical discs
such as a DVD-RW (DVD-rewritable) and a DVD-RAM (DVD-random-access
memory) can be used as the disc-like recording medium of the
present invention and that disc-like recording mediums of other
recording systems such as a magneto-optical disc and a magnetic
disc can be applied to the disc-like recording medium of the
present invention.
[0063] As illustrated, this disc type camera apparatus 1 is
composed of a disc drive apparatus 3 (see FIGS. 3 to 13 which will
be described later on) for rotating a DVD-R 2 (see FIG. 3), which
is detachably attached to the disc type camera apparatus 1, to
record (write) and reproduce (read) an information signal on and
from the DVD-R 2, a control circuit (not shown) for controlling
driving of this disc drive apparatus 3, a lens apparatus 4 for
picking up an image of an object as light so that light of image
may be introduced into the CCD, an outer case 5 for accommodating
therein the disc drive apparatus 3 and other components, a disc lid
7 rotatably attached to the outer case 5 so as to open and close a
disc compartment portion 6 and the like.
[0064] The outer case 5 is composed of a disc side panel 8, a
central portion panel 9 and a display apparatus side panel 10,
which are combined in a triple combination fashion, a front panel
11 and a rear panel 12 located ahead of and behind the optical axis
direction of the lens apparatus 4 and which may be combined with
these panels 8 to 10 and a partition panel (not shown) located in
the inside of the central portion panel 9. These panels 8 to 12
constitute a hollow casing. The disc drive apparatus 3 is
elastically supported to the partition panel at its surface
opposing the disc side panel 8 through mount insulators (not
shown). These panels 8 to 12 can be assembled and disassembled at
their suitable overlapping portions or through other members by
fixing means consisting of fixed screws.
[0065] The lens apparatus 4 is fixed to the upper portion of the
outer case 5 in the incorporated state, and an objective lens 15 of
the lens apparatus 4 is penetrated through the upper portion of the
front panel 11 in the forward direction and thereby exposed to the
front of the lens apparatus 4. Although not shown, the CCD is
located behind the lens apparatus 4 within the outer case 5 and a
viewfinder 16 is located behind the CCD.
[0066] The viewfinder 16 is exposed to the upper portion of the
outer case 5 and it can be moved back and forth in the optical axis
direction of the lens apparatus 4 with a predetermined distance by
a finder moving mechanism. This viewfinder 16 can be rotated about
the front side and it can be rotated about the back side in the
upper and lower direction. Thus, the angle of the viewfinder 16 can
be adjusted at an arbitrary angle within a predetermined angular
range (approximately 90 degrees in this embodiment) from the
horizontal state in which it is made parallel to the optical axis
of the lens apparatus 4 to the state in which its rear portion is
lifted in the upper direction. The angle of the viewfinder 16 can
be adjusted at any position from the front end portion to the rear
end portion of the finder moving mechanism.
[0067] Further, an accessory shoe 17 is attached to the upper
portion of the outer case 5 and accessories such as a video light
and an external microphone are detachably attached to the accessory
shoe 17. The accessory shoe 17 is located immediately in front of
the viewfinder 16 and an insertion slot by which various
accessories can be attached to the accessory shoe 17 may be opened
when the viewfinder 16 is moved backwardly. Accessories can be
attached to the accessory shoe 17 in the state in which this
insertion slot is open. When the viewfinder 16 is moved in the
forward direction after the accessory was attached to the accessory
shoe 17, the insertion slot is closed so that it becomes impossible
for the cameraman to remove the accessory from the accessory shoe
17. It is customary that a shoe cap 18 which may serve as a lid to
fill the space portion of the accessory shoe 17 when the accessory
shoe 17 is attached to the accessory shoe 17.
[0068] Also, a remote control light-receiving portion 20,
microphone terminals and a stereo type built-in microphone 22 are
disposed on the front of the front panel 11, in that order, from
above. The remote control light-receiving portion 20 is a receiving
portion which is used to remote-control this disc type camera
apparatus 1. This remote control portion 20 may serve as an
infrared light-emitting portion as well to emit infrared rays for
use in various purposes such as to automatically adjust focus.
Also, the microphone terminals consist of video terminals and audio
terminals and these terminals are covered with a terminal cover 21
so that these terminals can be opened and closed.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 15, the rear panel 12 of the outer case 5
has a battery compartment portion 25 provided thereon and to which
a power supply battery 24 is attached detachably. The battery
compartment portion 25 is opened in the rear surface and lower
surface of the rear panel 12 so that the cameraman can insert the
power supply battery 24 into the battery compartment portion 25
from the lower backward direction obliquely and that the cameraman
can remove the power supply battery 24 from the battery compartment
portion 25 from the same direction. Further, the rear panel 12 has
two metal support fittings 26a and 26b provided thereon to support
a suspension strap of the disc type camera apparatus 1. Of the two
support metal fittings 26a and 26b, one metal support fittings 26a
is attached to the lower portion of the left-hand side of the outer
case 5 and the other metal support fittings 26b is attached to the
upper portion of the right-hand side of the outer case 5.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 14, a display apparatus 28 is attached to
the display apparatus side panel 10 of the outer case 5 such that
its attitude can be varied. The display apparatus 28 is composed of
a flat plate-like liquid-crystal monitor (not shown), a panel case
30 in which this liquid-crystal monitor is accommodated and a panel
supporting portion 31 to support this panel case 30 to the outer
case 5 such that attitude of the panel case 30 can be changed. The
panel supporting portion 31 has a horizontal rotation function by
which the panel case 30 can be rotated about the vertical axis
approximately 90 degrees in the horizontal direction and a front
and back rotation function by which the panel case 30 can be
rotated about the horizontal axis approximately 180 degrees in the
front and back direction.
[0071] Thus, as shown in FIG. 14, the display apparatus 28 can be
placed in the housed state in which it may be housed within the
side wall of the outer case 5, the display apparatus 28 can be
placed in the state in which the panel case 30 may be rotated 90
degrees so that the liquid-crystal monitor may be opposed to the
rearward, the display apparatus 28 can be placed in the state in
which the panel case 30 may be rotated 180 degrees so that the
liquid-crystal monitor may be opposed to the forward and the
display apparatus 28 can be placed in the intermediate state of the
above-mentioned states arbitrarily. Further, an operation portion
33 consisting of a plurality of operation buttons is provided on
the upper portion of the display apparatus side panel 10.
[0072] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the outer case 5 has the disc
compartment portion 6 provided on its side surface and to which the
disc-like recording medium is attached detachably. This disc
compartment portion 6 is formed of a constant area having an
opening portion to expose a part of the disc drive apparatus 3. In
this embodiment, the disc compartment portion 6 is formed as the
area of a size large enough to correspond to the 8 cm DVD-R 2 which
is shown as a specific example of the disc-like recording medium.
This disc compartment portion 6 has at substantially its central
portion provided a table rotating means 35 of the disc drive
apparatus 3 and the DVD-R 2 can be attached to and fixed to the
turntable 36 provided at substantially the central portion of the
table rotating means 35.
[0073] The disc drive apparatus 3 is fixed to the outer case 5
through a chassis 37. As shown in FIG. 16, the disc compartment
portion 6 in which the disc drive apparatus 3 is located is covered
with the disc lid 7, which is rotatably supported at its side
surface portion to the disc side panel 8, so that it may be opened
and closed. The disc lid 7 may be formed as a shape coincident with
the shape of the disc compartment portion 6 and it is fixed to the
outer case 5 by a lid rotary shaft portion 38 attached to the rear
side. The disc lid 7 includes a flat surface portion 7a covering
the disc compartment portion 6 and a peripheral surface portion 7b
continued to substantially the whole periphery of the outer
peripheral edge of this flat surface portion 7a. The peripheral
surface portion 7b of this disc lid 7 may be constructed so as to
be fitted into an outer peripheral side recess portion of the disc
compartment portion 6 of the disc side panel 8.
[0074] Although not shown, the lid rotary shaft portion 38 is
composed of a support shaft which passes through a square portion
7c formed on the back side of the disc lid 7 and a bearing member
having a pair of bearing pieces to fixedly support both ends of
this support shaft. The bearing member is fixed to the disc side
panel 8, whereby the disc lid 7 is supported so as to become freely
rotatable. This lid rotary shaft portion 38 is provided with a
stopper portion by which a maximum opening angle (for example, 90
degrees) of the disc lid 7 can be set.
[0075] The above-mentioned lid rotary shaft portion 38 is attached
to the disc side panel 8 in the state in which the axial direction
of the support shaft is set in the upper and lower direction. Thus,
the disc lid 7 is rotatably supported to the rear portion of the
disc side panel 8 through the lid rotary shaft portion 38. As a
result, the disc lid 7 can be opened approximately 90 degrees in
the lateral direction from the front in the state in which the
front of the disc type camera apparatus 1 is faced to the front
side. Although not shown, the lid rotary shaft portion 38 has a
spring member attached thereto to enable the disc lid 7 to stand
still at an arbitrary opening position within a constant opening
angular range and also to enable the disc lid 7 to be biased in the
opening side under spring force when the disc lid 7 exceeds the
above constant opening angular range.
[0076] The disc side panel 8 and the central portion panel 9 have a
lid opening and closing mechanism of the disc lid 7 provided
therebetween although not shown. This lid opening and closing
mechanism has a function to lock the disc lid 7, which closed the
disc compartment portion 6, in the closed state and a function to
release the disc lid 7 from being locked in the closed state. Also,
a hand belt 40 is attached to the disc side panel 8 so as to
surround the disc lid 7. The hand belt 40 holds the hand of the
cameraman who grips a grip portion 5a of the outer case 5 to
thereby prevent the cameraman from dropping the disc type camera
apparatus 1 inadvertently.
[0077] This hand belt 40 is composed of a belt member 41 of which
respective ends are fixed to the disc side panel 8 and a protecting
pad 42 attached to this belt member 41 so as to come in contact
with the back of cameraman's hand. One end of the belt member 41 is
joined to an attachment fittings 43 fixed to the lower portion of
the front side of the disc side panel 8 and the other end thereof
is inserted into the inside from a through-hole bored at the
intermediate portion of the back side of the disc side panel 8 and
thereby fixed to the attachment fittings attached to the inside of
the disc side panel 8.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 15, a power button 44, a mode switch dial
45 and a record button 46 are disposed at the rear portion of the
disc side panel 8. The mode switch dial 45 is formed as a ring-like
dial and the power button 44 is housed within the hole of the
ring-like mode switch dial 45. The power button 44 is formed of a
push-push type switch means and the supply of power from the power
supply battery 24 is turned ON and OFF each time the power button
44 is depressed. The mode switch dial 45 is adapted to select
operation modes such as recording mode. The cameraman is able to
select a desired mode from three modes of "still picture mode",
"moving picture mode" and "watch/edit mode" by rotating the mode
switch dial 45. Also, the recording button 46 is formed of a
push-push type switch means and shooting of moving picture can be
started and stopped repeatedly each time the recording button 46 is
depressed.
[0079] Further, a shutter button 47 and a zoom lever 48 are located
at the upper portion of the rear side of the disc side panel 8. The
shutter button 47 is adapted to shoot still pictures, and one still
picture may be shot each time the cameraman depresses the shutter
button 47. Also, the zoom lever 48 is adapted to enlarge or reduce
an image during shooting or reproduction, and the cameraman can
adjust a magnification in a stepless fashion within a constant
range in response to the amount in which the cameraman operates the
zoom lever 48.
[0080] ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, for example,
may be suitable as a material of the disc side panel 8, the central
portion panel 9, the display apparatus side panel 10, the front
panel 11 and the rear panel 12 constructing the above-described
outer case 5. However, the above-mentioned suitable material is not
limited to ABS and other engineering plastics can of course be
applied to the above-mentioned suitable material. In addition, it
is possible to use other materials than synthetic resin and metals
such as aluminum alloy as the above-mentioned suitable
material.
[0081] The inside of the outer case 5 is divided in the right and
left direction (direction crossing the optical axis of the lens
apparatus 4) by a partition panel, whereby the side of the outer
case 5 is divided into a first chamber on the side of the disc lid
7 and a second chamber on the side of the display apparatus. The
partition panel is formed of a plate-like member and fastened to
the inside of the outer case 5 by fixed screws. A stainless steel
(SUS), for example, may be suitable as the material of the
partition panel. Steel, aluminum alloy and other metals can of
course be applied to the material of the partition panel and also
engineering plastic other than metals can be used as the material
of the partition panel.
[0082] Although not shown, the disc drive apparatus 3 is housed
within the first chamber of the outer case 5 and the lens apparatus
4 and suitable circuit elements such as a control circuit unit are
housed within the second chamber. To this end, a plurality of
protrusions is provided on one surface side of the partition panel
to support the disc drive apparatus 3 and a plurality of supporting
pieces is provided on the other surface to support the lens
apparatus 4 and suitable elements such as a printed circuit board.
The control circuit unit is composed of a microcomputer, a storage
apparatus (RAM (random-access memory), ROM (read-only memory)),
capacitors, resistors and other electronic assemblies, a printed
circuit board with these electronic assemblies mounted thereon and
the like.
[0083] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 13, the disc drive apparatus 3 is
composed of a chassis 37 attached through the partition panel to
the outer case 5, the table rotating means 35 fixed to this chassis
37, an optical pickup device 50 which shows a specific example of
the optical pickup device, an optical pickup moving means 51 for
moving this optical pickup device 50 within a predetermined range
in the radius direction of the DVD-R 2.
[0084] The chassis 37 includes an upper surface portion 37a and
four side surface portions 37b, 37c, 37d and 37e continuing to four
sides of this upper surface portion 37a. The chassis 37 is formed
of a box-like member of which lower surface is opened and it is
integrally made of an insulating resin material. Insulator
attachment portions 52 are provided at three portions, in total, of
the adjacent two corner portions of this chassis 37 and an
intermediate portion of the side opposing to the side located
between the two corner portions. Insertion holes 52a are formed on
the respective insulator attachment portions 52 and mount
insulators are attached into the insertion holes 52a. The mount
insulators are formed of elastic members made of an insulating
material and the chassis 37 is supported to the outer case 5 with
elasticity through these mount insulators.
[0085] An opening portion 54 is formed on the upper surface portion
37a of the chassis 37 so as to expose the upper surface of the
optical pickup device 50. The table rotating means 35 is provided
on one side of this chassis 37. The table rotating means 35 is
composed of a motor base 55 which shoes a specific example of the
chassis side member fixed to the lower surface of the chassis 37, a
spindle motor 56 held and fixed on this motor base 55 and a
turntable 57 provided on the rotary portion of this spindle motor
56. The motor base 55 is made of a conductive metal material and it
is fixed to the chassis 37 by a plurality of fixed screws 58a. The
present invention is not limited thereto and it is needless to say
that the spindle motor 56 may be directly fixed to the chassis
37.
[0086] The spindle motor 56 is composed of a fixed portion fixed to
the motor base 55 by a fixing means such as a caulking means and
the rotary portion rotatably supported to this fixed portion. The
turntable 57 is integrally provided on the rotary portion. The
turntable 57 is composed of a disc fitting portion 57a to which the
center hole of the DVD-R 2 is fitted and a disc holder portion 57b
on which the peripheral edge portion of the center hole of the
DVD-R 2 is held. The disc fitting portion 57a of the turntable 57
has a plurality of lock clicks 60 (three lock clicks 60 in this
embodiment) located at an equal spacing in the peripheral direction
thereof so as to be engaged with the peripheral edge portion of the
center hole of the DVD-R 2 to hold the DVD-R 2. Each lock click 60
is biased in the outside of the radius direction under spring force
of a spring (not shown), and the DVD-R 2 is properly positioned and
fixed to the predetermined position of the DVD-R 2 under spring
force of this spring.
[0087] The optical pickup device 50 is disposed near the table
rotating means 35. The optical pickup device 50 is composed of a
biaxial actuator 63 including a pickup lens 62 opposed to the
information recording surface of the DVD-R 2, a slide member 64
having this biaxial actuator 63 mounted thereon and the like. The
slide member 64 can be guided by a main guide shaft 66 and
sub-guide shaft 67, which show specific examples of two guide
members, and moved back and forth relative to the table rotating
means 35 (that is, the slide member 64 can come close to or come
away from of the table rotating means 35).
[0088] The main guide shaft 66 is formed of a straight round rod
made of a metal and the main guide shaft 66 is slidably penetrated
into bearing holes of a pair of bearing portions 68a and 68b
provided at one end of the slide member 64 along the longitudinal
direction. The bearing holes of the pair of bearing portions 68a
and 68b are set on the same axis in the axial direction of the main
guide shaft 66 at a proper space. When one main guide shaft 66 is
supported by the pair of bearing portions 68a and 68b, it is
possible to secure properties by which the slide member 64 can move
straight.
[0089] The sub-guide shaft 67 is formed as one body with the
chassis 37 in this embodiment. Specifically, the sub-guide shaft 67
is formed of a round bar-like protruded rail portion of which
cross-section is circular and it is protruded from the inner
surface of the side surface portion 37d to the inside. This
sub-guide shaft 67 is slidably penetrated into a bearing groove of
a second bearing portion 69 provided at the other end of the
longitudinal direction of the slide member 64. The bearing groove
of the second bearing portion 69 is provided so as to be opened in
the lateral direction of the longitudinal direction of the slide
member 64. As a consequence, although the main guide shaft 66 and
the sub-guide shaft 67 are able to be displaced relatively in the
plane direction in which the slide member 64 is moved, they may not
be displaced in the direction perpendicular to the plane
direction.
[0090] Also, the main guide shaft 66 and the sub-guide shaft 67 are
opposed to each other with a predetermined space across the table
rotating means 35 and also they are placed in substantially
parallel to each other. Then, the main guide shaft 66 is fixed at
its respective end portions of the axial direction to the chassis
37 by two kinds of supporting means 71 and 72. A leaf spring 74 is
provided on the second bearing portion 69 to absorb wobbling
between it and the sub-guide shaft 67. A tip end of the leaf spring
74 is brought in contact with the lower surface of the sub-guide
shaft 67 and the lower surface of the sub-guide shaft 67 is
spring-biased in the upper direction under spring force of this
leaf spring 74, whereby the slider member 64 is urged against the
lower direction to absorb the above-described wobbling.
[0091] The first supporting means 71 for supporting one end portion
of the main guide shaft 66 to the chassis 37 is adapted to properly
position and fixedly support the main guide shaft 66 at the
predetermined position. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first fixing
means 71 is composed of a bearing portion 75 having a concave
portion into which one end portion of the main guide shaft 66 is
inserted and a fixed screw 76 for fixing one end portion of the
main guide shaft 66 to this bearing portion 75 with pressure.
[0092] A concave portion of the bearing portion 75 may be a U-like
groove or a V-like groove and it is needless to say that this
concave portion of the bearing portion 75 may be a square groove
and grooves of other proper shapes. Also, although oval screws,
flat screws, pan-head screws, hexagon bolts, hexagon socket head
cap screws whose lower surfaces of the heads are developed in the
direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial
line and the like may be suitably used as the fixed screw 76, the
present invention is not limited thereto and flat fillister head
screws, oval countersunk screws and flat head bolts having head
portions (flat heads) with inverse cone-like tapered portions and
the like can be suitably used as the fixed screw 76. In the first
supporting means 71, the end portion of the main guide shaft 66 is
urged against and fixed to the bearing portion 75 by the chin
portion which is the lower surface of the head of the fixed screw
76.
[0093] The second supporting means 72 to support the other end
portion of the main guide shaft 66 to the chassis 37 is adapted to
support the main guide shaft 66 such that the main guide shaft 66
may be moved in the direction perpendicular to the axial line
within a predetermined range of the plane direction of the chassis
37. While the second supporting means 72 is illustrated similarly
to the first supporting means 71 in FIGS. 4 and 6, a first
inventive example of the second supporting means 72 is illustrated
in detail in FIGS. 17A to 17C in an enlarged-scale.
[0094] As shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C, the second supporting means 72
is composed of a coil spring 77 which shows a specific example of
an elastic member, an adjustment screw 78 for hindering movement of
the main guide shaft 66 biased under spring force of the coil
spring 77 and a spring holder 79 for holding the coil spring 77 at
the predetermined position of the chassis 37. On the plane of the
chassis 37, the coil spring 77 is located on one side of the
direction perpendicular to the direction in which the axial line of
the main guide shaft 66 is extended and the adjustment screw 78 is
located on the other side which is the opposite side of the side in
which the coil spring 77 is located.
[0095] The coil spring 77 is located in such a manner that its
spring central line BC may be extended in the direction
perpendicular to the axial line of the main guide shaft 66. One end
of the coil spring 77 is supported to the spring holder 79. The
spring holder 79 may be formed as one body with the chassis 37 as
illustrated. Alternatively, the spring holder 79 may be formed of a
member different from that of the chassis 37 and it may be fixed to
the chassis 37 by suitable fixing means such as fixed screws. A tip
end of the coil spring 77 is brought in contact with the side
surface of the main guide shaft 66 and the coil spring 77 is
provided in such a manner that the adjustment screw 78 may be
opposed to substantially an extended line of its spring central
line BC. The elastic member is not limited to the coil spring 77
shown in this embodiment. It is needless to say that not only
spring members such as a leaf spring and a volute spring but also
silicon rubber, urethane rubber and other rubber-like elastic
materials can be used as the material of the above elastic
member.
[0096] The adjustment screw 78 is formed of a flat head screw
member including a flat head 78a in which an inverse cone-like
tapered portion 80 is formed on the lower surface of the head and a
shaft portion 78b continuing to the small diameter side of the flat
head 78a. The above-mentioned small countersunk screw, oval
countersunk screw and flat head bolt can be suitably enumerated as
a specific example of this adjustment screw 78. A tapped hole 81,
which is opened in the upper surface, is bored on the chassis 37 in
response to this adjustment screw 78 and the shaft portion 78b of
the adjustment screw 78 is fitted into the tapped hole 81.
[0097] Thus, when the cameraman rotates the adjustment screw 78,
the height of the flat head 78a is increased or decreased in
response to the rotation direction of the adjustment screw 78 so
that the attitude (inclination) of the main guide shaft 66 can be
changed by the height of the flat head 78a. Specifically, when the
adjustment screw 78 is adjusted in such a manner that the outer
peripheral surface of the main guide shaft 66 may come in contact
with the proper position of the tapered portion 80 of the flat head
78a, the main guide shaft 66 is rotated about the first supporting
means 71 in the plane direction of the chassis 37 against the
spring force of the coil spring 37 with the result that the
attitude (inclination) of the main guide shaft 66 can be
changed.
[0098] According to this embodiment, since one end of the axial
direction of the main guide shaft 66 is supported by the first
supporting means 71 and only the other end thereof is supported by
the second supporting means 72, the attitude of the main guide
shaft 66 is changed by using only one end of the main guide shaft
66 to thereby cancel the R dependence. However, the present
invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and such
a variant is also possible, in which both ends of the axial
direction of the main guide shaft 66 can be supported by the second
supporting means 72, respectively. In such a case, the attitude of
the main guide shaft 66 can be adjusted at both ends of the axial
direction of the main guide shaft 66, whereby the attitude of the
main guide shaft 66 can be fine adjusted, thereby resulting in
adjustment with higher accuracy being carried out (that is, R
dependence can be canceled or decreased to nearly zero).
[0099] It is needless to say that both of the above-described two
guide members may be formed of round rods independently of the
chassis 37 similarly to the main guide shaft 66. In this case, one
ends of the two guide shafts may be supported by the second
supporting means 72 and the other ends may be supported by the
first supporting means 71. Alternatively, both ends of the two
guide shafts may be supported by the second supporting means 72.
However, if one end of at least the main guide shaft 66 of the two
guide shafts is supported by the second supporting means 72, then
this arrangement can satisfy the conditions of the arrangement of
the present invention.
[0100] Also, it is needless to say that not only engineering
plastic but also stainless steel, aluminum alloy and other metal
materials can be used as the material of the chassis 37. Further,
the shape of the chassis 37 is not limited to the casing described
in the above-described embodiment and it is needless to say that
the chassis 37 can be constructed by a flat plate member.
[0101] FIGS. 18A to 18C show a second inventive example of a second
supporting means 82. In this second supporting means 82, an
adjustment screw 83 is composed of a screw or bolt, which is
generally available, and a ring attached to the shaft portion of
the above screw or bolt. In the second inventive example, only the
adjustment screw 82 will be explained and other elements and parts
need not be described.
[0102] As shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C, the adjustment screw 83 is
composed of a fixed screw 84 and a ring 85 having an inverse
cone-like tapered portion 80. An oval screw, a flat head screw, a
pan-head screw, a hexagon bolt, a hexagon socket head cap screw
having a general head in which a lower surface of a head 84a is
developed in the direction perpendicular or substantially
perpendicular to the axial line and the like can be used as the
fixed screw 84. The ring 85 is formed of a circular ring-like
member whose upper surface is formed as a flat surface and in which
the inverse cone-like tapered portion 80 is formed on the lower
portion. The ring 85 has at its central portion bored a
through-hole 86 into which a shaft portion 84b of the fixed screw
84 is fitted loosely.
[0103] In this inventive example, the main guide shaft 66 biased
under spring force of the coil spring 77 is brought in contact with
the adjustment screw 83 by any of the following states in response
to the height position at which the ring 85 is placed by fastening
the fixed screw 84. One of the following states is (1) in which the
main guide shaft 66 is urged against the common portion extending
from the shaft portion 84b of the fixed screw 84 to the tapered
portion 80 of the ring 85 as shown in FIG. 18A and the other of the
following states is (2) in which the main guide shaft 66 is urged
against the tapered portion 80 of the ring 85 as shown in FIGS. 18B
and 18C.
[0104] As described above, a feed screw shaft 88 of the optical
pickup moving means 51 is located near the outside of the main
guide shaft 66 of which attitude required when it is attached to
the chassis 37 can be adjusted. The feed screw shaft 88 is set to
become parallel or substantially parallel to the main guide shaft
66. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, this feed screw shaft 88 is
constructed as a rotary shaft of a sled motor 89 and both end
portions of the axial direction of the feed screw shaft 88 are
rotatably supported by a supporting plate 90. The supporting plate
90 is fastened to and fixed to the lower surface of the chassis 38
by attachment screws 91a as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0105] A rack 93 fixed to the slide member 64 is meshed with the
feed screw shaft 88 of the optical pickup moving means 51. The rack
93 has a tooth portion that may be fitted into threads of the feed
screw shaft 88 such that the tooth portion can be moved relatively.
The tooth portion of the rack 93 is constantly biased to the side
of the feed screw shaft 88 under spring force of a rack pressing
spring 94. The rack pressing spring 94 is composed of a pressing
portion 94a which contacts with the back of the rack 93 to urge the
rack 93 against the feed screw shaft 88 with elasticity and a fixed
portion 94b joined to this pressing portion 94a as one body with
the rack pressing spring 94. The rack pressing spring 94 is
fastened to and fixed to the slide member 64 by screwing the fixed
portion 94b with the attachment screws 91a.
[0106] Accordingly, as the sled motor 89 is driven to rotate the
feed screw shaft 88, the optical pickup device 50 can be
selectively moved in the direction in which it comes close to the
table rotating means 35 (turntable 57, etc.) or in the direction in
which it comes away from the table rotating means 35 in response to
the rotation direction of the feed screw shaft 88. These chassis
37, table rotating means 35, optical pickup device 50 and optical
pickup moving means 51 and other related mechanisms constitute the
disc drive apparatus 3.
[0107] When the disc drive apparatus 3 having the above-mentioned
arrangement is attached to the predetermined position within the
outer case 5, as shown in FIG. 16, the turntable 57 of the table
rotating means 35 is located at substantially the central portion
of the disc compartment portion 6. This disc compartment portion 6
may be opened and closed by the disc lid 7 and the lid opening and
closing mechanism can lock the disc lid 7 to the closed position
and it can release the disc lid 7 from the locked state.
[0108] The lid opening and closing mechanism includes a lock member
95 fixed to the disc lid 7 and a switch provided within the outer
case 5 although only the arrangement of a part of the lid opening
and closing mechanism is illustrate. When the lock member 95 is
locked by the switch, the disc lid 7 is held at the closed
position. The disc lid 7 is opened when the locked state is
released by the switch.
[0109] According to the disc type camera apparatus 1 including the
disc drive apparatus 3 having the aforementioned arrangement, when
the cameraman take a picture of an object similarly to a general
camera apparatus, a digital signal corresponding to the image of
the object can be generated so that such image can be displayed on
a display apparatus such as a liquid-crystal display or that an
information signal corresponding to such image can be recorded on a
built-in storage apparatus or an external storage apparatus and the
like.
[0110] In this case, when a positional relationship between the
rotary shaft of the spindle motor 56 of the table rotating means 35
and the main guide shaft 66 of the optical pickup moving means 51
is not set to a value which falls within previously-determined
proper values, the R dependence occurs to deteriorate efficiency at
which suitable signals such as a tracking signal and a focusing
signal can be read. Therefore, in such a case, it is necessary to
correct the R dependence by adjusting the attitude (angle of
inclination) of the main guide shaft 66 such that the R dependence
may be canceled or decreased to a value close to zero.
[0111] FIG. 19A shows the state in which the movement locus PL of
the optical pickup 100 of the optical pickup device 50 is displaced
from the disc central line CL by a displacement amount E. In FIGS.
19A to 19D, reference numeral 100A denotes the state in which the
optical pickup 100 is located at the innermost periphery of the
information recording area, and reference numeral 100B denotes the
state in which the optical pickup 100 is located at the outermost
periphery of the information recording area. Also, reference
numeral 111 denotes a main beam spot of three beam spots of beams
emitted from the optical pickup 100, reference numeral 112 denotes
a side beam spot of the front side of the track running direction
and reference numeral 113 denotes a side beam spot of the rear side
of the track running direction, respectively.
[0112] When the movement locus PL of the optical pickup 100 is set
to the state shown in FIG. 19A, the movement locus PL is adjusted
so as to be placed in the state shown in FIG. 19B, 19C or 19D by
rotating the adjustment screw 78 (83) of the second supporting
means 72. In the illustrated examples, the second supporting means
72 were respectively provided at both sides of the axial direction
of the main guide shaft 66 so that the attitudes of the main guide
shaft 66 could be adjusted at respective end portions
separately.
[0113] FIG. 19B shows the case in which the main guide shaft 66 is
adjusted by using the front side second supporting means 72 located
close to the table rotating means 35 so that the extended line of
the movement locus PL may pass the rotation center DC of the
turntable 57. In this case, the attitude of the main guide shaft 66
is adjusted by turning or loosening the adjustment screw 78 of the
front side second supporting means 72 so that the extended line of
the movement locus PL of the optical pickup 100 may coincide with a
line which results from connecting the rotation center DC of the
turntable 57 and the rear side supporting means 72 of the main
guide shaft 66.
[0114] Let it now be assumed that the front side second supporting
means 72 is placed in the state shown in FIG. 17B. Then, when the
adjustment screw 78 is turned, the countersunk head 78a of the
adjustment screw 78 is lowered to elevate the contact portion of
the adjustment screw 78 with the outer peripheral surface of the
main guide shaft 66. As a consequence, as shown in FIG. 17C, the
main guide shaft 66 is pushed to the outside (right-hand side in
FIG. 17B) by the inclined plane of the tapered portion 80 against
the spring force of the coil spring 77 so that the attitude
(inclination or angle of inclination) of the main guide shaft 66 is
changed. Also, when the adjustment screw 78 is loosened from the
state shown in FIG. 17B, the countersunk head 78a of the adjustment
screw 78 is elevated to lower the contact portion of the adjustment
screw 78 with the outer peripheral surface of the main guide shaft
66. As a consequence, as shown in FIG. 17A, the main guide shaft 66
is pushed by the spring force of the coil spring 77 and entered
into the inside (left-hand side in FIG. 17B) along the inclined
plane of the tapered portion 80 so that the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is changed similarly.
[0115] As described above, it is possible to cancel the R
dependence or decrease the R dependence to a value close to zero by
changing the attitude (inclination or angle of inclination) of the
main guide shaft 66. In addition, according to the method for
adjusting the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 by using the
front side second supporting means 72, since it is sufficient that
the adjustment amount of the main guide shaft 66 may be the minimum
as compared with the following cases shown in FIGS. 19C and 19D,
adjustment work can be carried efficiently. With respect to the
adjustment screw 78 and the coil spring 77, it is fundamentally
possible that either the adjustment screw 78 or the coil spring 77
may be located on the desired side surface of the two side surface
of the main guide shaft 66. However, having considered that a space
of a certain size should be required to apply constant spring force
to the elastic member, it is effective from a space standpoint that
the adjustment screw 78 should be located on the inside of the main
guide shaft 66.
[0116] FIG. 19C shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by using the rear side second supporting
means 72 located distant from the table rotating means 35. Although
the adjustment method of this case is similar to that of FIG. 19B,
in order to adjust the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 such
that the extended line of the movement locus PL of the optical
pickup 100 may coincide with the line which results from connecting
the rotation center DC of the turntable 57 and the front side
supporting means 72 of the main guide shaft 66, it is necessary to
provide a sufficiently large movement amount of the main guide
shaft 66 as shown in FIG. 19C. For this reason, although the
attitude of the main guide shaft 66 can be adjusted by using the
rear side second supporting means 72, since the adjustment amount
is increased and hence adjustment efficiency is inferior to that
obtained when the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 is adjusted
by using the front side second supporting means 72.
[0117] FIG. 19D shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by using both of the front side second
supporting means 72 and the rear side second supporting means 72.
The adjustment method of this case is similar to that of FIG. 19B
and with the adjustment of both of the front side second supporting
means 72 and the rear side second supporting means 72, the attitude
(inclination or angle of inclination) of the main guide shaft 66
can be changed to cancel the R dependence or to decrease the R
dependence to a value close to zero similarly as described above.
In addition, when both of the front side and rear side second
supporting means 72 are adjusted, it becomes possible to fine
adjust the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 and hence adjustment
work with higher accuracy can be carried out.
[0118] FIG. 20A shows the state in which the movement locus PL of
the optical pickup 100 crosses the disc central line CL with an
inclination of the beam displacement angle .theta.b. In FIGS. 20A
to 20D, elements and parts identical to those of FIGS. 19A to 19D
are denoted by identical reference numerals and therefore need not
be described. Also in the case in which the movement locus PL of
the optical pickup 100 is set to the state shown in FIG. 20A, the
movement locus PL of the optical pickup 100 is adjusted so as to be
placed in the state shown in FIG. 20B, 20C or 20D by turning the
adjustment screw 78 (83) of the second supporting means 72.
[0119] FIG. 20B shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by using the front side second
supporting means 72 located on the side close to the table rotating
means 35. In this case, the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 is
adjusted by turning or loosening the adjustment screw 78 (83) of
the front side second supporting means 72 in such a manner that the
extended line of the movement locus PL of the optical pickup 100
may coincide with the line which connects the rotation center DC of
the turntable 57 and the rear side supporting portion of the main
guide shaft 66. As described above, it is possible to cancel the R
dependence or to decrease the R dependence to the value close to
zero by turning the adjustment screw 78 to change the attitude
(inclination or angle of inclination).
[0120] FIG. 20C shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by the rear side second supporting means
72 located on the side distant from the table rotating means 35.
Although the adjustment method of this case is similar to that of
the case shown in FIG. 20B, in order to adjust the attitude of the
main guide shaft 66 in such a manner that the extended line of the
movement locus PL of the optical pickup 100 may coincide with the
line which connects the rotation center DC of the turntable 57 and
the front side supporting portion of the main guide shaft 66, as
shown in FIG. 20C, since it is necessary to provide a sufficiently
large movement amount of the main guide shaft 66, it is unavoidable
that the adjustment amount of the main guide shaft 66 is increased
and hence adjustment efficiency is deteriorated as compared with
the case in which the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 is
adjusted by using the front side second supporting means 72.
[0121] FIG. 20D shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by using both of the front side second
supporting means 72 and the rear side second supporting means 72.
The adjustment method of this case is similar to that of the case
shown in FIG. 20B and it is possible to cancel the R dependence or
to decrease the R dependence to a value close to zero by adjusting
the front side second supporting means 72 and the rear side second
supporting means 72 to change the attitude (inclination or angle of
inclination) of the main guide shaft 66 similarly as described
above. In addition, since there are two places to be adjusted, very
fine adjustment becomes possible and hence adjustment work can be
carried out with higher accuracy.
[0122] FIG. 21A shows the case in which the movement locus PL of
the optical pickup 100 crosses the disc central line CL with an
inclination on the opposite side of FIG. 20A to generate the beam
displacement angle .theta.b. In FIGS. 21A to 21D, elements and
parts identical to those of FIGS. 19A to 19D are denoted by
identical reference numerals and therefore need not be described.
Also in this case, the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 is
adjusted by turning the adjustment screw 78 (83) of the second
supporting means 72 in such a manner that the movement locus PL of
the optical pickup 100 may become as shown in FIG. 21B, 21C or
21D.
[0123] FIG. 21B shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by using the front side second
supporting means 72 located on the side close to the table rotating
means 35. In this case, the attitude of the main guide shaft 66 is
adjusted by turning or loosening the adjustment screw 78 (83) of
the front side second supporting means 72 such that the extended
line of the movement locus PL of the optical pickup 100 may
coincide with the line which connects the rotation center DC of the
turntable 57 and the rear side supporting portion of the main guide
shaft 66. As described above, it is possible to cancel the R
dependence or to decrease the R dependence to a value close to zero
by turning the adjustment screw 78 to change the attitude
(inclination or angle of inclination) of the main guide shaft
66.
[0124] FIG. 21C shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by using the rear side second supporting
means 72 located on the side distant from the table rotating means
35. Although the adjustment method of this case is similar to that
of the case shown in FIG. 20B, in order to adjust the attitude of
the main guide shaft 66 in such a manner that the extended line of
the movement locus PL of the optical pickup 100 may coincide with
the line which connects the rotation center DC of the turntable 57
and the front side supporting portion of the main guide shaft 66,
as shown in FIG. 21C, since it is necessary to provide a
sufficiently large movement amount of the main guide shaft 66, it
is unavoidable that the adjustment amount of the main guide shaft
66 is increased and hence adjustment efficiency is deteriorated as
compared with the case in which the attitude of the main guide
shaft 66 is adjusted by using the front side second supporting
means 72.
[0125] FIG. 21D shows the case in which the attitude of the main
guide shaft 66 is adjusted by using both of the front side second
supporting means 72 and the rear side second supporting means 72.
The adjustment method of this case is similar to that of the case
shown in FIG. 21B and it is possible to cancel the R dependence or
to decrease the R dependence to a value close to zero by adjusting
the front side second supporting means 72 and the rear side second
supporting means 72 to change the attitude (inclination or angle of
inclination) of the main guide shaft 66 similarly as described
above. In addition, since there are two places to be adjusted, very
fine adjustment becomes possible and hence adjustment work can be
carried out with higher accuracy.
[0126] As described above, according to the embodiments of the
present invention, since the attitude (inclination or angle of
inclination) of the guide shaft can be adjusted based on the degree
in which the adjustment screw is turned, the optical pickup is able
to trace the disc central line of the disc-like recording medium
regardless of accuracy of assemblies such as the chassis and the
spindle motor and accuracy with which those assemblies are
attached. Therefore, the tracking signal can be detected with
higher accuracy, deterioration of tracking efficiency can be
suppressed to the minimum, this kind of apparatus can be improved
in performance and the assemblies such as the chassis and the
spindle motor can be manufactured inexpensively.
[0127] The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned
and illustrated embodiments and can be variously changed modified
without departing from the gist thereof. For example, while the
present invention is applied to the disc type camera apparatus
using the DVD-R as the recording medium as described above, the
present invention is not limited thereto and can also be applied to
camera apparatus using other recording system disc-like recording
mediums such as a magneto-optical disc and a magnetic disc.
Further, the electronic device according to the present invention
is not limited to the aforementioned camera apparatus and can also
be applied to personal computers, electronic dictionaries, DVD
players, car navigation systems using this kind of disc drive
apparatus and various kinds of electronic devices.
[0128] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, the disc-like recording medium mounted on the turntable
is rotated by the table rotating means and the optical pickup
device is moved in the radius direction of the disc-like recording
medium by the optical pickup moving means. When the optical pickup
device is being moved in the radius direction of the disc-like
recording medium by the optical pickup moving means, the
information signal is recorded on or reproduced from the disc-like
recording medium by the optical pickup device. At that time, if the
optical pickup which traces the information recording surface of
the disc-like recording medium is displaced from the disc central
line, then tracking efficiency will be deteriorated and hence the
optical pickup should be adjusted so as to remove such
displacement. In this case, the height of the head is changed by
turning the adjustment screw of the supporting means which supports
at least one guide member of the two guide members to the chassis
or the chassis side member, whereby the axial direction (attachment
attitude) of one guide member spring-biased with the elastic member
is changed to remove the R dependence.
[0129] As a result, since the optical pickup device can be adjusted
such that the optical pickup may trace the disc central line
regardless of attachment accuracy of the chassis, the spindle motor
and the like, deterioration of tracking efficiency can be
suppressed to the minimum and performance of the disc drive
apparatus can be improved for recording and reproduction. Also, the
adjustment screw of the main guide shaft which is one guide member
serves as a member for fixing the main guide shaft to the chassis
as well. In consequence, work of two steps of the rotation
adjustment work done by the adjustment jig in the adjustment work
of the R dependence, which has been enumerated as the problem
encountered with the related art, and the fixing work using the
fixed screws can be replaced with work of one step and hence
adjustment and fixing can be completed. Thus, it becomes possible
to decrease the number of manufacturing processes and the number of
assemblies.
[0130] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, since screw assemblies generally available on the
market, such as small countersink screws and flat head bolts of
flat fillister head screws and oval countersunk screws can be used
as adjustment screws and screws of special shapes and structures
need not be manufactured, a manufacturing cost of the disc drive
apparatus can be prevented from being increased and hence it is
possible to realize the supporting means, which can change the
axial direction of the guide member, by an extremely simple
arrangement.
[0131] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, since the adjustment screw can be constructed by the
simple arrangement of the screw, which is widely used, and the
tapered ring, it is possible to realize the supporting means, which
can change the axial direction of the guide member, by the simple
arrangement without increasing the manufacturing cost so much.
[0132] According to the disc drive apparatus of the present
invention, since the coil spring, the leaf spring, the volute
spring or the rubber-like elastic material, which are widely used,
can be used as the elastic member and accordingly any special
elastic member need not be used, it is possible to inexpensively
manufacture the supporting means, which can change the axial
direction of the guide member, by the simple arrangement without
increasing the manufacturing cost so much.
[0133] Further, according to the disc drive apparatus of the
present invention, since one guide member is supported by the
supporting means such that both ends thereof in the longitudinal
direction may be adjusted, the guide member can be adjusted at its
both ends of the axial direction and it is possible to realize the
supporting means of which angle can be fine adjusted by the simple
arrangement.
[0134] Furthermore, according to the electronic device of the
present invention, the axial direction of at least one guide member
of the two guide members supported to the chassis or the chassis
side member of the disc drive apparatus by the supporting means can
be varied by turning the adjustment screw of the supporting means
to change the height of the head of the adjustment screw, whereby
the axial direction of the guide member spring-biased by the
elastic member can be changed to remove the R dependence. As a
result, it is possible to provide the electronic device in which
adjustment work by which the optical pickup can trace the disc
central line can be carried out with ease regardless of positional
accuracy of suitable components such as the chassis and the spindle
motor, deterioration of tracking efficiency can be suppressed to
the minimum and which can be improved in performance for recording
and reproduction.
[0135] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and
alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other
factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims
or the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *